Comelec ready to conduct BSKE amid proposal to extend barangay, SK officials' term

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday said it is ready to hold the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on November 2, amid a proposal to extend officials' terms to five years and reset the elections to November 2028.

“Ang Comelec po ay handang-handa na magsagawa ng halalan sa November 2 (Comelec is ready to conduct the election on November 2),” Comelec chairperson George Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB.

He added that the poll body has completed the acquisition of election paraphernalia and the printing of additional ballots.

On Thursday, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero filed a bill seeking to extend the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to five years and reset the elections to November 2028.

Senate Bill 2387 seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 12232 or "An Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and for Other Purposes."

In his explanatory note, Escudero said the proposed measure seeks to enhance the stability and consistency of public service at the barangay level by providing for a five-year term for barangay officials and members of Sangguniang Kabataan.

Garcia also told dzBB that the Comelec had requested Malacañang to suspend classes on November 3, 2026, since the BSKE is set during Undas (All Souls' Day).

However, the Comelec chairperson said the poll body recognized the power of Congress to change the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan terms from four years to five years.

“Siyempre, kinikilala natin 'yung kapangyarihan na pag-fix ng termino mula apat na taon papunta raw sa limang taon ay absolutely kapangyarihan ng Kongreso. Hindi puwedeng pakialaman ng Comelec,” Garcia said.

(Of course, we recognize Congress’ power to fix the terms [of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials] from four years to five years. Comelec cannot interfere with that.)

“Hindi talaga ang issue ay ang postponement, kundi ang pagpapalawig ng termino ng mga nakaupo. Lalabas po 'yung mismong pagpo-postpone ay consequence or epekto ng pagpapalawig na 'yan,” he added.

(The issue is not the postponement but the extension of the term of those currently in office. The postponement itself would merely be a consequence or effect of that extension.)

To recall, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed a measure in 2025 that sets the term of office of all elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to four years.

Republic Act No. 12232 or the Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan also sets the next regular BSKE on the first Monday of November 2026 and every four years thereafter. —KG, GMA News